Try the hamsterley trailblazers website for some good rides in and around hamsters. I can recommend the doctors gate route, it is better if it were dry but still good.
There is a very good route around Gunnerside Gill over in swaledale, but probably best left until better weather as it can be pretty exposed on the tops.

One thing to note, its the glorious twelfth tomorrow so the moors will be full of hoo-ray Henrys sporting plus fours and shooting under the influence.

You lucky fella, Ive got a great route for Hamsterley - its only 13 miles long - starts and finishes at the visitors centre , it takes in the hidden singletrack along the picturesque river - the rooty climb up and along the dry stone wall - it takes in "transmitter" and the brilliant "section 13" - and also gives you the option to loop section 13 for another go around (add 1 mile for each loop)- then drops you back to your start point via the bombhole -
Alternatively DALBY also rules and would be arguably better in the wet (coz its sandy)than Hamsterleys claggy mud
- But if your "ooop north" none of these man made rides come close to the awesome majesty of the wild and wooly NORTH YORKS MOORS mile after mile of tough climbs - meandering sheep track - bouldery descents and technical moorland singletrack that spawned the likes of Steve Peat - Orange & Ragley.
I heartilly reccomend anything round by rosedale abbey. Or my own fave TAN HILL britains highest Pub. (sea level not whacky)
OOOOH Nearly forgot Whinlatter , whinlatter in the lakes is dead good in the wet - due to the shaley trail.
message me for route if you get stuck.
OOOOOH GISBURN FOREST How could I neglect to mention Gizburn - ride the roller coaster that is HULLY GULLEY ? And if youve got the balls for it THE SLAB !!!!!
We are totally spoilt for shit hot stuff mate - bettter you go home wait for it to dry out - take a week off work , come back up , give me a shout and we,ll ride the lot !!! owsat ? All are welcome.

+1 to what twedspeed said. Pretty much all of it is ace to ride and we are v lucky.

There is plenty of good stuff to ride at Hamsterly and is a bit less exposed than some of the the other stuff. Even though it is way marked you will get a bit more out of it with someone to guide you..

Am not far away and potentially free monday pm if you want a blast? (assuming am not too brken from my stag do this weekend). email in profile.

Route 14 is best done by riding the moors from Edmundbyers on the way out as well as on the return leg. You drop down to Blanchland on the Bridleway the turns off the moor above the farm called Belmount (incidentally the scene of an infamous murder).

On the way back head up the road towards Rookhope instead of the one in the guide so you can ride the trail over Bolts Law.

I have the Beyond Hamsterley GPS files uploaded on mapmyride.com under the username legolam83. Fairly sure you can search for them on there. I did the Edmundbyers/Blanchland ride a couple of weeks ago and it was great fun.

Summers been and gone. April and May I believe?
From the above suggestions the Bolts Law loop is probably the best nearest proper ride. There is also some little gems on your doorstep if you want a couple of hours local riding.

Check out the woods near the recycling centre at Pity Me, known locally as the chicken run (across the rd from a chicken farm). The locals have cut some good runs with drop offs, jumps and doubles which is entertaining for an hour or so, then use the back roads to get to Waldridge where there is a very good section of singletrack through Congburn plantation down to Chester le street. Bit overgrown atm but very fun.

Given the week it's been weather-wise, quite a bit of the good singletrack on the moors recommended above will be pretty filthy, hard work and easy to damage, so probably best avoided for this weekend unfortunately . I'll be out putting some miles on the road instead, so not all bad.

The forecast has improved a little though, looks like the odd shower and not too strong a wind at the moment.

Given where you are, Hamsterley would probably offer the best all weather riding options and is in easier striking distance than Kielder. Any Beamish Oddsoxers or Hamsterley locals would be able to give you more info on best options down there though.

You lucky fella, Ive got a great route for Hamsterley - its only 13 miles long - starts and finishes at the visitors centre , it takes in the hidden singletrack along the picturesque river - the rooty climb up and along the dry stone wall - it takes in "transmitter" and the brilliant "section 13" - and also gives you the option to loop section 13 for another go around (add 1 mile for each loop)- then drops you back to your start point via the bombhole -

If you're in Great Lumley, you could easily head up the C2C from Chester, then round Beamish, Causey, Waldridge fell etc riding from the door. Or head for Finchale Abbey then Durham, on to Lanchester valley way (or whatever its called) up to Consett then back down the C2C- not technical but a nice ride out.
Could possibly show you round Sunday, but Im at a party Saturday night so will not be in tip top shape Sun

OK I wound up doing Hamsterley black and a chunk of the red, including some unfurnished bermed trail I found in the woods,. I took off across the moors at the top too but it was so boggy I turned back.

Couldn't work out how to load these MMR routes into their iPhone app, lord they don't make it easy. Anyway next time I'l take a topo and aim to get off the prepared trail.

Thx all for your suggestions, I am keeping them. I live in Surrey so if you want a guide for the Surrey Hills/North Downs, get in touch.

- M

Note to anyone reading this in the future: the Hamsterley trail map doesn't show that the black is ridden anti-clockwise, the red is clockwise - this is material if planning to link them!